Dear AFJROTC Family,

         Thank you for considering Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) for your loved one. AFJROTC is an incredible program and our mission is “To develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” Our program is completely voluntary and no student can be forced to take AFJROTC but the support and encouragement you give your student to “try” the program is incredibly important.

         There are a few important points we want to ensure are very clear to our families.

1. If a student takes AFJROTC in high school, there is never any obligation to join the military.

2. AFJROTC emphasizes “life skills” which will help students long after high school.

3. AFJROTC will help prepare your student for success following high school.

          It’s important to know all JROTC programs are citizenship programs. They are not military recruiting programs and the citizenship charter is stated in Title 10 United States Code law. AFJROTC works to teach important skills and reinforce personal traits to help make your student successful in life, no matter what type of career they choose following high school. These life skills are based on the Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” Your student will learn important aspects of leadership, followership, adherence to personal appearance and grooming standards, proper uniform wear and will also have the opportunity to participate in some very exciting co-curricular activities to include community service. These activities reinforce the lessons they will learn in the classroom and provide them an opportunity to lead and learn among their peers. These activities are our “hands on” teaching tools and are a very fun and exciting way to reinforce the importance of team-work, service, positive attitude, hard-work, and positive image. AFJROTC is a place where a student will not only start to grasp important life lessons, but they will truly feel a sense of accomplishment, belonging, and pride that comes with teamwork and success.

Colonel Vincent Jefferson

Colonel Vince Jefferson is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI) for the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) at Willis High School.  He is responsible for the overall administration of the AFJROTC program at Willis High School in accordance with an established agreement between Headquarters AFJROTC and Willis ISD. He also serves as the department head and teaches the Aerospace Science portion of the course.  He is serving in his eleventh year as a SASI.  He served his first year as a SASI at Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Texas.

Colonel Jefferson graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He also earned his Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management from West Coast University in 1997.  He served over 26 years of active duty service in the United States Air Force as a space operations officer in multiple assignments and locations around the world.  As a Colonel, he served as a Commander or Director until he retired in 2012.  As the Director of Operations and Exercise, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, he was responsible to the 14th Air Force Commander for the operational readiness of 28 weapon systems operated by more than 12,000 people, in 155 units, at 44 locations around the world.  As the Commander, 460th Mission Support Group, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, he was responsible for providing civil engineering, security and law enforcement, logistics readiness, contracting, military and civilian personnel support, education services and family support services to Air Force Space Command units as well as other units and agencies throughout the Colorado Front Range area. In his last active duty assignment as Director of Space Forces, US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Colonel Jefferson served as the senior space advisor to the designated air component commander(s) for United States European Command (USEUCOM) and United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM). He was responsible to the commander(s) for coordinating, integrating, and staffing activities to plan, execute, and assess space operations and effects to achieve joint force commander objectives in their geographical area(s) of responsibility.

EDUCATION:

• 1985 Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss.
• 1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
• 1997 Master of Science in Engineering Management, West Coast University, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 1997 Distinguished Graduate, USAF Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base Nev.
• 1999 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
• 2006 Air War College, Correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

• 1. January 1986 – October 1988, Missile Warning Operations Crew Commander and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 9th Missile Warning Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
• 2. September 1988 – June 1992, Chief, Phased Array Sensor Training,1013th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
• 3. June 1992 – October 1994, Satellite Operations Crew Commander and Assistant Chief, Ultra-High Frequency Follow-on Satellite Operations, 3rd Space Operations Squadron, Falcon Air Force Base, Colo.
• 4. October 1994 – April 1996, Exercise Planner, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 5. April 1996 – July 1997, Chief, Current Operations, 614th Space Operations Flight, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 6. July 1997 – September 1999, Chief, Space Operations, 16th Air Force, Aviano Air Base, Italy.
• 7. September 1999 – August 2000, Commander, Weapons and Tactics Flight, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
• 8. August 2000 – January 2002, Operations Officer, 50th Operations Support Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
• 9. January 2002 – April 2003, Chief, Weapons and Tactics Branch, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
• 10. April 2003 – July 2005, Commander, 328th Weapons Squadron, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
• 11. July 2005 – May 2007, Deputy Commander, 614th Space Operations Group, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 12. May 2007 – June 2007, Deputy Commander, 614th Air and Space Operations Center, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 13. June 2007 – May 2008, Director of Operations and Exercise,14th Air Force (AFSTRAT), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
• 14. May 2008 – Jul 2010, Commander, 460th Mission Support Group, 460th Space Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
• 15. Jul 2010 – Mar 2012, Director of Space Forces, US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, (DIRSPACEFOR, USAFE and AFAFRICA), 3^rd Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
• 16. Apr 2012 – Jul 2013, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI), Cleveland High School, Cleveland, Texas
• 17. Aug 2013 – Present, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI), Willis High School, Willis, Texas

SPACE INFORMATION:

• Badges:    Command Space Badge
• Systems: Pave PAWS Space Warning System
• Ultra-high Frequency Follow-on Communications Satellite
• Joint Space Operations Center

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

• Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
• Combat Readiness Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Kosovo Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• NATO Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

• Second Lieutenant          August 8, 1985
• First Lieutenant               October 30, 1987
• Captain                             October 30, 1989
• Major                                 August 1, 1997
• Lieutenant Colonel          February 1, 2002
• Colonel                              June 1, 2007
• Retired                              April 1, 2012

Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Bell

Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Christopher D. Bell is the Aerospace Science Instructor (ASI) for the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) at Willis High School.  He is responsible for the overall administration of the AFJROTC program at Willis High School in accordance with an established agreement between Headquarters AFJROTC and Willis ISD. He teaches the Leadership Education and Health & Wellness portion of the course.  

SMSgt Bell entered the Air Force in November of 1992. He served 23 years 6 months, 7 days of active duty service in the United States Air Force as a Guidance and Systems Control Specialists and majority of his career as a Military Training Instructor.  SMSgt Bell graduated from Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, TX in Jan 1993 and proceeded to Keesler AFB MS to complete technical training.  His first permanent duty was at McGuire AFB, NJ where he served as a guidance and control systems apprentice. He volunteered to become a Military Training Instructor in 1997 and was accepted.  He graduated from Military Training Instructor School in Jan 1998 as a distinguished graduate and was assigned to the 322d Training Squadron.  While there he was awarded Airman of the quarter 6 times, airman of the year twice and Blue Rope of the year in 2000 and subsequently went on to be named the Blue Rope of the year for the Air Force. SMSgt Bell went from the 322d TRS to the 37th Training Support Squadron, Military Training Instructor School as an Instructor in 2001.  There he won numerous awards, which included Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the 37th Training Group. In 2005, he was hand selected by the Commandant of Cadets for the United States Air Force Academy to be the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Basic Cadet Training.  While there he was named NCO of the Year twice and was also STEP promoted to Master Sergeant.  In 2009, he returned to Lackland AFB as a Section Supervisor for the 320th TRS, moving on to become the Training Superintendent. In 2011, he was reassigned to the 326th TRS as an Instructor Supervisor.  From there, he was selected to become the lead program manager for all inspections for the 737th Training Group.  In 2012 and after completion of the AF Inspector General inspection, SMSgt Bell was selected as the 737th Training Support Squadron Superintendent.  SMSgt Bell retired on 31 May 2016. SMSgt Bell married his bride, Jennifer, on Nov 14, 1992 and they have 3 children, Christopher II, Nicholas, and Olivia.

EDUCATION:

• 1993 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB TX
• 1993 Technical Training, Keelser AFB MS.
• 1997 Military Training Instructor School, Lackland AFB TX, Distinguished Graduate
• 1998 Airman Leadership School, Lackland AFB TX Distinguished Graduate
• 2002 Guidance and Control Systems Associates Degree, Community College of the Air Force
• 2003 Bachelor of Science in Occupation Education, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX
• 2007 Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Peterson AFB, CO
• 2012 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, AL
• 2013 Master of Business Administration, Webster University, St Louis, MO

ASSIGNMENTS:

• 1. Nov 1992 – Jan 1993, Student, 331st Training Squadron, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
• 2. Jan 93 – Aug 93, Technical Training Student, 322d Training Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
• 3. Aug 93 – Feb 96, Guidance and Control Systems Specialists, 305 Aircraft Generation Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ
• 4. Feb 96 – Jan 97, Due-In-Form maintenance Monitor, 305th AGS, McGuire AFB, NJ
• 5. Jan 97 – Aug 97, Base Honor Guard Member, 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire AFB, NJ
• 6. Aug 97 – Jan 98, Student, Military Training Instructor School, 37th Training Support Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
• 7. Jan 98 – May 00, Military Training Instructor, 322d Training Squadron, Lackland, TX
• 8. May 00 – Jun 01, Military Drill and Ceremonies NCO, 322d TRS, Lackland, TX
• 9. Jun 01 – Apr 05, Instructor, Military Training Instructor School, 37th Training Support Squadron, Lackland, TX
• 10. Apr 05 – Oct 09, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Basic Cadet Training, United Stated Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
• 11. Oct 09 – Oct 10, Section Supervisor, 320th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
• 12. Oct 10 – Jun 11, Training Superintended, 320th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
• 13. Jun 11 – May 12, Instructor Supervisor, 326th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
• 14. May 12 - Jan 13, Lead Program Manager IG inspection 737th Training Group, Lackland AFB, TX
• 15.0Jan 13 – Jun 16, Training Superintendent, 737th Training Support squadron, Lackland AFB, TX

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

• Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Achievement Medal
• Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one silver oak leaf Cluster and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Recognition Ribbon
• National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

• Airman                                 May 1993
• Airman First Class              August 1994     
• Senior Airman                     November 1995
• Staff Sergeant                     February 2000
• Technical Sergeant             February 2005
• Master Sergeant                 December 2008
• Senior Master Sergeant     June 2013
• Retired                                  June 2016